On Saturday, Celtic make their first foray into the FA Trophy with a tough away tie at Blyth Spartans. Blyth may be bottom of the Conference North, with eleven points, twenty places and thirty-two points behind second placed Celtic, but they are a fearsome cup team that have seen off many a higher placed team. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Blyth have not had a great season this year, but have always done well in cup competitions down the years, making them one of the most well known non-league teams. Their eleven points this season have come from two wins and five draws. They have yet to win away from home, but have beaten both Bishop's Stortford (3-1) and Boston United (1-0) at home this season. Their last league win was back in mid-September, and since then they have picked up two points with home draws to Colwyn Bay (2-2) and Hinckley United (3-3). Blyth got through four rounds of the FA Cup until they lost 2-0 at home to Gateshead in front of a packed Croft Park. Along the way they beat Droylsden (in a replay), Whitby Town and Bedlington Terriers.

Blyth have recently signed Gateshead midfielder Robert Briggs from Conference Premier side Gateshead, and have been given permission to play him in the FA Trophy against us. Graham Armstrong and David Coulson are Blyth's top scorers in the league this year, with three apiece. They score 1.9 goals per game at home, and 1.1 overall, whilst conceding 2.1 goals per game at home and 2.3 overall. They have scored nineteen goals this season in the league with the hour mark seeing their most productive spell with six goals scored. Blyth have conceded thirty-nine goals this season with their last fifteen minutes giving them the most worry, seeing thirteen goals go in during this spell.

Their last game was a county cup match, a home game against Newcastle Benfield, a game they lost 2-1 after going ahead, although a number of fringe players were in the starting line up. Their last league game was a home game against Hinckley that finished 3-3. David Knight has a pending suspension, but is eligible for the game on Saturday. If the game went to a replay, he would be ineligible. In their 3-3 draw with Hinckley, Blyth lined up as:
1. David Knight
2. Richie Slaughter
3. Phil Cave
4. Rob Briggs
5. Dan Groves
6. Greg Pearson
7. Chris Emms
8. Neal Hooks
9. Graeme Armstrong
10. Jamie Mole
11. Wayne Phillips

Celtic centreback, Kristian Platt has gashed a leg in training and will need a fitness test ahead of Saturday's clash, otherwise Celtic appear to be injury free and are suspension free for the match on Saturday. In our last match, the 1-1 draw away at Guiseley, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Chris Lynch
6. Jack Rea
7. Steve Brogan
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Lloyd Ellams
11. Connor Jennings

Celtic are traditionally quite poor in cup competitions, and Blyth are traditionally quite good. Our record at Croft Park is excellent though, and we have won six of our ten visits there, including winning the President's cup. We have also, in the past twenty years, knocked Blyth out of the FA Trophy already back in January 2000, and the FA Cup in September of 2000. So perhaps the suggested score-line from the automated prediction algorithm of 4-2 in Celtic's favour might be accurate for once...